You understand that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a great concept, only to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I decided to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. Yet actually? It became among the most uncomfortable software program decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, much more reliable means to expand your company. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Monster stack of tools just to run your daily, you know just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and liking it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained lured in by the promise of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor case of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did whatever I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in places, and in some cases things took a couple of more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), provided more features, and all the amazing marketing experts online seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That inquisitiveness expense me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, reconstructing workflows, and essentially trying to replicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Personalized types, landing pages, causes … everything
Let’s not even speak about the shed efficiency during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to find out where the hell basic setups were.
And simply when I believed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Creeping In
Initially, whatever looked okay. However after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my list began getting e-mails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m talking entirely unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at once. Three days in a row.
Overall turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They condemned “server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not go away. Visualize getting up every morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply aggravating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is built on count on, you can not manage to look like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any kind of system. Pests occur. But when they do? I expect the support team to step up quick.
That really did not occur right here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into deep space while my business melted. At the same time, every min I spent fixing was a min I had not been offering customers or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Mobile Payments Options.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in strange locations. Also basic tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Intend to transform product settings, web page formats, and total circulation? Great– you’ll need to search via three different areas that make absolutely no rational sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like using software program developed by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Real Rapid
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large marketing points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, ideal?
But right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Mobile Payments Options
The last straw? Seeing my email open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points simply worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play detective while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– below’s what I desire someone had actually informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped concerning the current “innovative” tool. But just because everyone’s talking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive interface will certainly conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden prices are the most awful. Choose tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your regular monthly bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Inspect honest reviews, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to actual user experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use platform to run your service, I have actually tested a bunch. Right here are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it just functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for tiny to mid-sized services with solid coverage tools.
Monday.com— Superb for job administration, group collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your current setup. Don’t shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thanks.